Nutrition Tips

More and more children are developing allergies and sensitivities to dairy causing concern among parents that their children will have trouble receiving enough dietary calcium. Indeed, the quantity of calcium in dairy products is high, but the quality is questionable. How much calcium do we really absorb from milk? Not as much as most people think. Remember, we are what we absorb, not what we eat! Thankfully, there are many foods which, though contain a lower quantity of calcium, have calcium that is much more available to the body. These foods include:

Soup made from a bone broth (be sure to add 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar to draw the calcium out of bones to make it available in the broth)

Seaweeds (particularly Wakame, Kombu and Hiziki)

For kids with dairy sensitivities or signs that an allergy is in a beginning stage, consider switching to goat’s milk dairy products. Goat’s milk is much closer to mother’s milk and has a significantly smaller chain of lactose then cow’s milk, making it easier for the body to breakdown, absorb and assimilate.

In addition to eating food sources with bioavailable calcium, it is also important to limit foods that negatively affect calcium balance in the body. These include:

The concern regarding GMO foods is increasing rapidly. More and more people are becoming aware of the high rate at which our foods are being genetically engineered and the potential negative impact these foods are having on our health. Many assume that these foods have been extensively tested, leading them to believe that GMO foods are safe. Tested for efficacy, yes; tested for human safety, no. I have heard the introduction of GMO foods be referred to as “the largest experiment to be done on mankind.” We are the guinea pigs! It is very difficult to determine whether you are purchasing and eating GMO foods as there is no labeling required. See below for a list of ways to enhance your consumer awareness to avoid purchasing GMO foods:

Soy, canola, corn and cotton are the largest GMO crops and should be avoided.

Involve yourself in the campaign to have GMO foods labeled. Demand from your government that GMO foods are labeled, join an activist organization, write a letter to your local newspaper, become informed and inform others!

Back to school is around the corner! Mornings will get earlier, schedules will be more hectic and after schools snackers will be on the prowl. Kids function much better with a healthy diet, so now is the perfect time to start thinking about how to make your kid’s school snacks healthier. Here are a few snack ideas to consider:

Nutrition Tips with Julia O’Loughlin, RHN

Did you know that the liver performs over 500 metabolic functions? Some of it’s most important functions include: processing digested food from the intestines,controlling levels of fats, amino acids and glucose in the blood , combating infections in the body, clearing the blood of particles and infections including bacteria, neutralizing and destroying drugs and toxins, manufacturing bile, storing iron, vitamins and other essential chemicals, breaking down food and turning it into energy, manufacturing, breaking down and regulating numerous hormones including sex hormones, and making enzymes and proteins which are responsible for most chemical reactions in the body, for example those involved in blood clotting and repair of damaged tissues.

Be good to your liver by eating the following foods that help to cleanse, strengthen and tonnify this amazing organ:

Nutrition Tips with Julia O’Loughlin, RHNDid you know that there are over 30 names for MSG? Most people don’t, which is no coincidence! Manufacturers have become acutely aware that the preference of most consumers is to not have MSG in their food. The overwhelming response to this preference has unfortunately not been to remove it, but, rather, to hide it in a label that contains only ingredient names consumers will not recognize as containing MSG. Using this technique, products that do in fact contain MSG, can “legitimately” advertise “No MSG” or “No MSG Added.” See below for a list of MSG containing ingredients and read all labels before purchasing your food, even those that claim to be organic!